Lauren Flynn, a Democratic member of the Grand Traverse County Commission, was arraigned Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge under Michigan’s “super drunk” driving law stemming from a traffic stop in July.
Flynn, 46, was pulled over in Grand Traverse County on July 24. Her blood-alcohol concentration tested at 0.17% or higher, more than double the state’s legal limit of 0.08%, according to WPBN.
The “super drunk” statute carries tougher penalties than a standard operating-while-intoxicated charge. A first-time conviction under the standard charge can bring up to 93 days in jail. Under the enhanced law, Flynn faces up to 180 days in county jail if convicted.
Flynn appeared at her arraignment via Zoom. Her attorney, Jesse Williams, entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. She spoke only to confirm personal details during the hearing.
She has been released on undisclosed bond under conditions that bar her from drinking or using drugs and from entering bars or casinos. She is also required to submit to breath tests twice a day.
The case is being handled by neighboring Antrim County rather than Grand Traverse County, where the stop occurred, which delayed her arraignment. No date has been set for her next court appearance, and Flynn has not commented publicly on the charge.
Flynn represents District 2 on the Grand Traverse County Commission and was first elected in 2022. She won re-election in November 2024, defeating Republican challenger Daniel Smith by nearly 13 points.
A single mother of two teenage daughters, Flynn has built her tenure on the commission around child care affordability and housing costs in the district. During her 2024 campaign, she said she had paused work on a degree at Central Michigan University and moved to Traverse City, describing how high daycare costs had added strain that contributed to the breakdown of her marriage before her husband’s death.
“Ensuring affordable daycare is not just a priority for me—it’s a necessity,” Flynn said during her campaign.
